Beards of Faith: The facial hair holy men wear

The piece described the traditional facial hair worn by religious figures, like Orthodox Jews, Muslim clerics and the Amish.

“What do they have in common? Beards,” the story said. “And not neatly trimmed beards, but, in the popular stereotype, long, unruly beards, which connote piety, spiritual intensity and a life so hard at study that there is no time for a shave. The scholar, the mystic, the terrorist, the holy man — they all have beards.”

In honor of the mighty beard, we’ve compiled a photo gallery to show off the hairy faces of men of faith:

Photo: Dan Mandell

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Jewish performer Matisyahu, who affiliated with Brooklyn Hasidic Jews for years, followed the tradition laid out in Leviticus to not “round the corners of your head (above the ears) nor mar the edges of your beards.” Ultra-Orthodox Jews also sport beards, as well as some Orthodox. less

Jewish performer Matisyahu, who affiliated with Brooklyn Hasidic Jews for years, followed the tradition laid out in Leviticus to not “round the corners of your head (above the ears) nor mar the edges of your ... more

Photo: Dan Mandell

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Chabad chaplain Rabbi Dovid Goldstein, of Houston, wears a bushy, red beard. According to his tradition, physical appearance reflects spirituality, and beards symbolize ideas flowing from the mind into everyday practices. less

Chabad chaplain Rabbi Dovid Goldstein, of Houston, wears a bushy, red beard. According to his tradition, physical appearance reflects spirituality, and beards symbolize ideas flowing from the mind into ... more

Photo: Nick de la Torre / Chronicle

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Hindu yoga guru Swami Ramdev wears a big, black beard and ties his hair back in a ponytail, though his hairstyle is not prescriptive: Most of his followers shave.

Hindu yoga guru Swami Ramdev wears a big, black beard and ties his hair back in a ponytail, though his hairstyle is not prescriptive: Most of his followers shave.

Photo: Deshakalyan Chowdury / AFP

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Muslim comedian Aszhar Usman jokes that his long beard and Islamic-sounding name get him stopped at airports.

Muslim comedian Aszhar Usman jokes that his long beard and Islamic-sounding name get him stopped at airports.

Photo: AP

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Greek Orthodox priests, like church head Archbishop Christodoulos, wear beards as a part of Orthodox Christian tradition, following Scriptural prescriptions, specifically Paul in 1 Corinthians.

Greek Orthodox priests, like church head Archbishop Christodoulos, wear beards as a part of Orthodox Christian tradition, following Scriptural prescriptions, specifically Paul in 1 Corinthians.

Sikh Army captain Dr. Kamal S. Kalsi challenged the military regulations against beards and turbans, both commanded by his faith’s master, Guru Gobind Sigh as a sign of spiritual purity and honor for God.

Sikh Army captain Dr. Kamal S. Kalsi challenged the military regulations against beards and turbans, both commanded by his faith’s master, Guru Gobind Sigh as a sign of spiritual purity and honor for God.

Photo: Mel Evans / AP

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Muslim men may wear beards, as did the Prophet Muhammad, according to a Hadith that reads, “trim the mustaches short and grow the beard.”

Muslim men may wear beards, as did the Prophet Muhammad, according to a Hadith that reads, “trim the mustaches short and grow the beard.”

Photo: Steve Dykes / AP

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Muslim imams, like these two from Texas, usually have beards and may wear head coverings as well.

Muslim imams, like these two from Texas, usually have beards and may wear head coverings as well.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Rastafarians’ beards and dreadlocks are symbols of their devotion.

Rastafarians’ beards and dreadlocks are symbols of their devotion.

Photo: COLLIN REID / AP

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Celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, part of the Chabad movement, wears a beard.

Celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, part of the Chabad movement, wears a beard.

Photo: Randy Bazemore / KRT

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Amish men stop shaving once they are married as a mark of adulthood. (They do not wear wedding rings.) They do not wear mustaches due to the look’s association with the military.

Amish men stop shaving once they are married as a mark of adulthood. (They do not wear wedding rings.) They do not wear mustaches due to the look’s association with the military.

Photo: Scott Olson / Getty Images

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Sadhus are ascetics who practice yoga and wear body paint. As devotees of the Hindu Lord Shiva, they let their beards grow long and sometimes dread their hair.

Sadhus are ascetics who practice yoga and wear body paint. As devotees of the Hindu Lord Shiva, they let their beards grow long and sometimes dread their hair.

Photo: Greg Davis

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Zeus, of Greek mythology, is shown as a powerful father-figure with a long, curly beard.

Zeus, of Greek mythology, is shown as a powerful father-figure with a long, curly beard.

Photo: JustinMN / Flickr

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Jesus Christ is often portrayed with long hair and a beard, though Christians debate what the Savior may have actually looked like.

Jesus Christ is often portrayed with long hair and a beard, though Christians debate what the Savior may have actually looked like.

Photo: Newmarket Films

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Beards of Faith: The facial hair holy men wear

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With all this talk of holy whiskers, it’s worth noting that other faiths favor the clean-shaven, whether for cultural reasons or spiritual.

Men at Brigham Young University and missionaries with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may not grow facial hair, and Buddhists monks often shave their faces and heads. Catholic position on beards sided with shaving, but has gone back and forth.